Marshall Union Manor

    2020 NW Northrup St, Portland, OR, 97209
    3.3 · 7 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    3.0

    Good property, management needs improvement

    I live here - the building is well kept, tenants are friendly, and rent is standard. Management is rude and enforcement is lax: smoking in units continues despite policy, spot checks feel inconsistent, and staff need better training and professionalism. Recurring early-morning gas-powered leaf blowers (I'd prefer electric) and broken glass in the street (police report filed) disturb sleep and create safety hazards. Good property, but management and enforcement seriously need improvement.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    3.29 · 7 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      3.3
    • Staff

      1.0
    • Meals

      3.3
    • Amenities

      5.0
    • Value

      3.0

    Pros

    • Well kept and well maintained building
    • Friendly tenants and a stable resident community
    • Long-term leases indicating stability
    • Rent is standard for the area
    • Low exposure to crime for an urban location
    • Some residents report no complaints and dispute negative reviews

    Cons

    • Smoking inside units and weak enforcement of smoking policy
    • Unprofessional or rude staff and concerns about staff training
    • Recurring dangerous litter (broken glass) in surrounding streets
    • Management blamed by residents for recurring community hazards
    • Unscheduled spot checks seen as intrusive by some residents
    • Noise problems from gas-powered leaf blowers and landscaping
    • Perceived focus on building policies over individual resident needs
    • Enforcement effort viewed as insufficient despite management's claimed good faith attempts

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment about Marshall Union Manor is mixed, with clear strengths in the physical upkeep and resident stability but significant concerns about staff behavior, enforcement of rules, safety hazards in the surrounding area, and maintenance-related noise. Several reviewers emphasize that the building itself is well maintained and clean; long-term leases and friendly, stable tenants contribute to an overall sense of a settled community. Rent levels are described as standard for the area, and the property’s urban location is tempered by a reported low exposure to crime, which some residents view positively.

    Facilities and exterior maintenance are a point of contrast: while the building is described as well kept, there are repeated complaints about landscaping practices and the tools used. Gas-powered leaf blowers are repeatedly called out as loud and disruptive, affecting residents’ sleep and comfort. Reviewers express a preference for electric equipment to cut noise and disturbance. Another recurring facilities-related safety concern is broken glass littering the street around the property. This is described as a hazard to the community, with at least one police report filed and multiple residents blaming staff or management for the recurring problem and for not preventing or cleaning up the debris quickly enough.

    Safety and rule enforcement are prominent themes. Smoking inside units is mentioned as an ongoing problem; residents report that enforcement policies are inadequate or inconsistently applied. Management reportedly conducts unscheduled spot checks and claims to make good faith efforts to enforce rules, but many reviewers feel these efforts are either intrusive or insufficient to protect resident safety and wellbeing. Several entries note that enforcement actions appear to prioritize protecting the building or its reputation rather than addressing individual resident needs, which contributes to frustration and a perception that enforcement "needs improvement."

    Staff and management receive mixed but often critical comments. Some residents explicitly describe staff as unprofessional or rude, with concerns about insufficient staff training and a lack of kindness or respect in staff–resident interactions. At the same time, there are references to an active administrator and management presence (for instance, unscheduled spot checks and claimed good faith efforts), indicating management is engaged but that execution or communication may be lacking. A few reviewers dispute or dismiss negative reviews, suggesting a portion of the community is satisfied and that opinions are divided.

    Care quality, dining, and activities are not discussed in the provided summaries, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn about those services. The absence of commentary on dining and activity programming suggests these areas were not salient in these specific reviews, not necessarily that they are problematic or exemplary.

    In summary, Marshall Union Manor appears to be a physically well-maintained, stable urban property with a friendly tenant base and rents comparable to the local market. However, persistent issues around smoking in units, inconsistent or unsatisfactory enforcement, noisy gas-powered landscaping equipment, staff professionalism and training, and recurring street hazards (broken glass) undermine resident satisfaction for a notable subset of reviewers. Management presence is evident and some residents acknowledge good faith efforts, but there is a clear pattern of residents calling for improved enforcement, better staff training and conduct, quieter landscaping practices (electric equipment preferred), and more effective measures to remove and prevent hazardous litter in surrounding areas.

    Location

    Map showing location of Marshall Union Manor

    About Marshall Union Manor

    Marshall Union Manor sits in the heart of Portland's Alphabet District on NW Northrup Street, right where the streets run in order and get bigger as you move away from the Willamette River, and folks living there really notice how easy it is to find everything, with grocery stores like Trader Joes, Fred Meyer, Food Front, Safeway, and Walgreens Pharmacy all close by, plus the Good Samaritan Hospital and Eye Health Northwest sit nearby for quick access to doctors or care. The building stands twelve stories tall, offering 242 studio and one-bedroom apartments, each with its own kitchen, and most have individual balconies that overlook peaceful gardens or the lively neighborhood. The creek running through the grounds and the raised-bed gardens give a spot to relax, and the in-house library and computer room help pass the time, while there are clubs, beauty and barber shops, laundry rooms, organized trips, a big activity room, and places to sit with neighbors or read in the quiet corners. The Manor's age requirement is sixty-two and older, and it's fitted for seniors who want independent, assisted, or memory care living, with some apartments designed for easy wheel-chair access, plus a Resident Services Coordinator helps folks connect with services outside the building, which comes in handy. Federal rent subsidies are available for people who qualify, so it's possible to find affordable rent with one monthly fee that covers things like heat, lights, water, and garbage, and there's no big upfront buy-in fee. Off-street parking and proximity to the Portland Street Car, Tri-Met buses, highways, and all the restaurants and shops along NW 21st and 23rd Avenues make getting around town pretty simple, even to spots like the historic Multnomah County Central Library or The Friendly House, where some residents help out with volunteer work. With staff known for being joyful and kind, plus nutritious meals from chefs, security measures, and home care when needed, Marshall Union Manor has become a well-regarded spot for Portland seniors who want comfort, a good location, and a little help if they need it, whether for community or just a bit of peace and quiet.

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